Travel Bug 40

Issue 40 - June 2008

Vanuatu Attends BFTE Tourism Exchange

This year’s BFTE event was staged at the Warwick Hotel on the Coral Coast, Fiji,
from the 4th to the 6th June. The event was attended by over 200 buyers from Australia, New Zealand,
New Caledonia, Europe, USA, Korea, and Japan. There were over 600 delegates from all over the world, who
met to gather information and showcase their properties or products. The event paves the way for more formal
contractual arrangements to be entered into by the sellers and the travelers they are endeavouring to get to their
particular destination.

Vanuatu this year was represented by 12 operators including the VTO.
These were Le lagon Resort, Le Meridien Resort, The Sebel, The Moorings, Eratap Beach Resort, Poppys on the Lagoon,
Mangoes Resort, Coconut Palms Resort, White Grass, Evergreen Tours, & Iririki Island Resort. The Destination
was well signposted with a beautiful array of flags lining the area in front of each seller’s booth and the whole
team resplendent in their uniforms. Vanuatu was certainly popular with many wholesalers from markets that have
traditionally not ventured into this area but who are now looking to spread their options to the whole Pacific
rather than just focusing on Fiji. The Other Pacific Countries who were well represented included Samoa, the Cook
Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Kiribas, & Tonga.

In August this year Vanuatu will host their own version of this
event for buyers mainly based in Australia and New Zealand but also from New Caledonia and other countries who
seriously want to sell Vanuatu to their clients. This years Vanuatu event will be held at The Sebel Hotel with a
village being built on the adjacent vacant land. The village will be connected to the Sebel by way of a stairway to
the Sebel’s front deck. (Source: VTO Island Nius June 2008)

Direct Melbourne - Port Vila flights

The Espiritu Santo Tourism Association and several members joined Air Vanuatu and
VHRA in Melbourne for the launch of the new direct Melbourne/Port Vila flights. Lee Whitely attended on behalf of
ESTA and Bokissa, Beachfront, Aore and Moyyan were also represented. The event was held in a function centre on
Flinders Street in the CBD and was attended by approximately 120 travel agents from Melbourne.

The band from Ekasup Village provided the entertainment which was
appreciated by everyone. Prizes of flights and accommodation were won by agents after completing a questionnaire on
the facilities available throughout Vanuatu’s tourism industry. Air Vanuatu and VTO gave power point presentations
and introduced the new airlines sales team in Victoria. There was a great deal of interest in Vanuatu as a friendly
and happy holiday destination. The Espiritu Santo Tourism Association will continue to promote Sanma Province and
the attractions of the northern islands of Vanuatu. (Source: VTO Island Nius June 2008)

Pacific Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010

Pacific Island Countries have joined forces with
south-pacific.travel to exhibit at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, in response to the invitation of the Government of
the People’s Republic of China. Chairman of south pacific.travel, Mr Peter Vincent and the Deputy Director General
of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the Organiser of Expo 2010, Prof. Zhou Hanmin, today officially
signed the agreement for south-pacific.travel to coordinate the participation of the Pacific Island Countries in
the exposition.

The organizers of Shanghai World Expo 2010 plan to deliver the
largest World Exposition ever with over 200 participants (Sovereign nations and International Organisations) and an
estimated 70 million visitors are expected to attend. The leading participation agreement between
south-pacific.travel and the Expo Organisers officially signed today, confirmed that a high traffic area located
near to the Expo Boulevard, which is the centre of the Expo Site, will be allocated for the Pacific with the space
area of 8,100 square metres. The full coverage of construction and operation costs involved in the Pacific Pavilion
will be covered by the Government of China.

The proposed concept for the Pacific Pavilion involves the use of
water to symbolize the Pacific Ocean. With the outdoor temperatures in Shanghai reaching 40 degrees in the heat of
the summer, a Pavilion using water would be a refreshing break for visitors. Visitors can walk from “country” to
“country” within the Pavilion which will appear to be floating on water like the islands of the Pacific. Individual
countries will take creative control of their own country space within the Pacific Pavilion which will be an
opportunity to demonstrate the diverse architecture and cultural values of the region. (Source:
south-pacific.travel)

Turtle Bay Resort Opening on Santo Island

Formerly known as the Reef Motel, Turtle Bay Resort, Santo will open
its doors this July after undergoing extensive renovations. All rooms, restaurant, outdoor areas and pools are
being completely refurbished and redecorated to give the old Reef a great face lift. The new owners, Matt Yates and
Patricia Gil will provide the new resort not only with tasteful decor but an array of activities, regular
entertainment and circus.

As part of their circus program, they will be running week long
circus workshops for children during the school holidays. These workshops will run in five-day blocks and children
will have the opportunity to learn a variety of circus skills such as juggling, acrobatics, trapeze and aerial silk
in a safe and fun environment. The workshops are facilitated by highly experienced and accomplished circus
performers and tutors and children not only have fun but learn many new skills whilst improvings their strength,
flexibility, and fitness. Beside the school holidays circus workshops, resort guests will have the opportunity all
year around to participate in daily classes in yoga, juggling and aerials.

It’s not just for the circus lovers however. Situated on 2 acres of
gardens and 120 metres of beautiful waterfront in Turtle Bay, the resort offers canoeing, cycling, snorkelling or
simply relaxing by the bar in the peaceful tropical surroundings. The resort will also have the facilities to hold
conferences and other functions with a large marquee, lighting, sound and entertainment available for such events.
(Source: VTO Island Nius May 2008)